Container Assembly

ABSTRACT

A container having the ability to preserve contents is disclosed. The container can have a seal with a viewer, which can bend light, which will enable a user to better view the contents of the container while it is sealed. The container can also have a receptacle that can be filled with different items for better storage of the contents. The container having a viewer can also have a receptacle that allows the user to still see through the viewer to the contents.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to containers used to contain, keep and display products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a lid with a lid opening;

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a lid with a tamper-evident ring;

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a lid from the top;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a lid from the top;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an embodiment of a lid from the top;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a sealing element with a viewer;

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a sealing element with a viewer and a receptacle that surrounds a light path;

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of a sealing element with a flap having a flap window that allows for light to pass through the viewer.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a viewer having magnification abilities; and

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a lid that is tamper-resistant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series, and the like.

The present disclosure is described in relation to sealing elements that are employed to contain items within container 6 and to show that the container 6, and the contents therein, have not been tampered in any way.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a container 6 having a lid 5 with a lid opening 51 defined by a lid surface. The lid opening 51, when used with a viewer 3, allows a user to view through the lid 5 the product located in the container 6. In some embodiments (seen in FIGS. 7 and 8), the lid opening 51 has a lid window 56 is a transparent, translucent, or other material that allows light to pass therethrough. In some embodiments, the lid opening 51 is a hole.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a container 6 having lid 5 comprising a tamper-evident ring 52. The tamper-evident ring 52 is configured such that once the lid 5 is removed or manipulated past a predetermined point, the ring 521 will separate from the lid 5, indicating that the container 6 has been accessed previously. In some embodiments, the tamper-evident ring 52 comprises a ring 521 and attachments 522 that are able to break with a sufficient amount of force is applied to allow the ring 521 to be free of the lid 5.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a container 6 having a lid 5, with a lid opening 51, a sealing element 2, and a viewer 3. In some embodiments, the viewer 3 is a transparent and/or translucent material. In some embodiments, the viewer 3 has magnifying properties. In some embodiments, the viewer 3 comprises a magnifying element with a focal point 31. The viewer 3 is located in the sealing element opening 21.

In some embodiments, the container 6 will have a lid 5 without a lid opening 51, and the sealing element 2 will have a viewer 3. The sealing element 2 and the viewer 3 will be able to reside under the lid 5 when tightly attached to the container 6. In some embodiments, the viewer 3 can extend above, below, and/or be flush with the plane defined by the sealing element 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a container 6 having a lid 5 without a lid opening 51 shown from the top.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section of an embodiment comprising a container 6, a sealing element 2, and a receptacle 4. In some embodiments, the receptacle 4 comprises a receptacle 4 barrier that allows for air to pass through in and out of the receptacle 4 while containing a receptacle 4 material. In some embodiments, the receptacle 4 material can be a desiccant. In some embodiments, the receptacle 4 material comprises a humectant. In some embodiments, the receptacle 4 material comprises a scent material to impart a scent to the container 6. In some embodiments, the receptacle 4 material comprises a desiccant, a humectant, and/or a scent material. In some embodiments, the receptacle 4 material can be a desiccant, a humectant, a scent material, oxygen absorber, activated carbon, corrosion inhibitor, metal chelation agent, or a combination thereof. The receptacle 4 can be numerous shapes, including but not limited to, a ring 521 shape, a doughnut shape, a washer shape, a circular shape and a spherical dome.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment comprising a container 6, a sealing element 2, a lid 5, a viewer 3, and a receptacle 4. In some embodiments, the receptacle 4 partially or fully encircles the viewer 3. As can be seen, in some embodiments the lid 5 will comprise of a lid window 56 located in the lid opening 51.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an embodiment of the sealing element 2 with a viewer 3 and a receptacle 4 that fully encircles the viewer 3.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a sealing element 2 comprising a sealing element opening 21 and a flap 22. When the sealing element 2 is applied to the container 6 and the lid 5 applied, the flap 22 will be placed to the side. The flap 2 defines a flap window 221 that will allow viewing through the sealing element opening 21. The flap 22 can be used with a lid 5 that defines a lid opening 51, enabling a user to look through the lid opening 51. The flap 22 that defines the flap window 221 enables a user to look through the lid opening 51 and, when desired, assist in the removal of the sealing element 2. It is also understood that the lid opening 51 can be a hole or have a lid window 56 therein. In some embodiments, wherein the lid opening 51 is a hole, the hole will assist the user's grip on the seal and help in the removal of the sealing element 2.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment wherein the viewer 3 comprises a magnifying element with a focal point 31. In some embodiments, the focal point 31 is predetermined. In some embodiments, the predetermined focal point 31 is set according to the depth of the container 6 and the height of the contents placed, or to be placed, therein. In some embodiments, the determination of the focal point 31 will be based on an estimated height and/or an average height of contents. It is understood that some of the contents intended to be placed in the container 6 are not standardized and estimations and averages can be used in determining the focal point 31. In some embodiments, the focal point 31 is to be set to the top of the contents, the midpoint of the contents, the bottom of the contents, or any place therebetween. It is to be understood that the focal point 31 can be set to any distance inside the container 6.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of the lid 5 comprising a tamper-resistant top 53, a tamper-resistant bottom 54, a tamper-resistant seal 55. The user can open the lid 5 by applying force to the tamper-resistant top 53 such that projections 531 will engage the notches 541 of the tamper-resistant bottom 54. Without the force, the tamper-resistant top 53 will slide along the tamper-resistant bottom 54, the projections 531 will not engage the notches 541, and the engagement element 542 cannot be actuated. The tamper-resistant top 53 and the tamper-resistant bottom 54 are configured such that they are biased away from each other, and a counter force is required to get them to engage. In some embodiments, the engagement element 542 is threads. The tamper-resistant seal 55 is sized to fit inside the tamper-resistant bottom 54 and is configured to create a seal when the tamper-resistant bottom 54 abuts a lip of the container 6. In some embodiments, the tamper-resistant seal 55 comprises a receptacle 4.

In some embodiments, the sealing element 2 is attached to the container lip 61. In some embodiments, the sealing element 2 is attached to the container lip 61 by means of an adhesive. In some embodiments, the sealing element 2 is attached to the container lip 61 by means of a material that is activated by electromagnetic energy. In some embodiments, the sealing element 2 is attached to the container lip 61 by means of an adhesive that is activated by heat. In some embodiments, the sealing element 2 is attached, at least in part, by pressure being applied to the sealing element 2, which in some instances can be applied by the lid 5. In some embodiments, the sealing element 2 is attached to the container lip 61 by means of induction. In some embodiments, the sealing element 2 comprises a pulpboard layer, a wax layer, a metallic foil layer, and a polymer layer. In some embodiments, the sealing element 2 comprises a foam layer, a metallic foil layer, and a polymer.

In some embodiments, the container 6 comprises a container attachment 62, located on the outside of the container 6, and will engage the lid 5. In some embodiments, the container attachment 62 comprises a thread, and the lid 5 comprises cooperating threads so that the lid 5 can be screwed onto the container 6. In some embodiments, the container attachment 62 is configured to establish an interference fit with the lid 5. In some embodiments, the interference fit is such that the lid 5 can be removed by some force by a user. In some embodiments, the user can replace the lid 5 on the container 6 to keep the contents of the container 6 therein.

In some embodiments, the container 6 and the lid 5 are not circular. In some embodiments, the viewer 3 has substantially the same shape as the lid 5 or the container lip 61.

In some embodiments, the lid 5 can a tamper-evident ring 52. The tamper-evident ring 52 or a tamper-resistant top 53 and tamper-resistant bottom 54 can accompany any embodiment of the lid 5. In some embodiments, the lid 5 will comprise a tamper-resistant top 53, tamper-resistant bottom 54, and a tamper-evident ring 52.

In some embodiments, the container 6 is transparent, translucent, colored, clear, or a combination thereof.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.

It should also be noted that elements of embodiments may be described in reference to the description of a particular embodiment; however, it is disclosed that elements of disclosed embodiments can be switched with corresponding elements of embodiments with the same name and/or number of other disclosed embodiments. 

1. An apparatus comprising: a lid comprising a lid surface; a sealing element comprising a viewer; and a container; wherein the viewer is configured to allow light to pass from the container through the viewer; the sealing element is removably coupled to the container; and the lid is removably coupled to the container, and the sealing element is located between the lid and the container.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lid further comprises a lid window, the lid surface defines a lid opening; and light is able to pass through the viewer, the lid opening, and the lid window.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lid window is at least partially located in the lid opening.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the viewer is configured to bend light traveling from inside the container through the viewer.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the viewer is configured to provide magnification or demagnification.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the viewer resides at least partially in the lid opening.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lid further comprises a lid window, wherein the lid window is configured to bend light traveling from inside the container through the lid window.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sealing element and the container form a seal.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lid further comprises a tamper-evident ring; a tamper-resistant top and a tamper-resistant bottom; or the tamper-evident ring, the tamper-resistant top, and the tamper-resistant bottom.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the viewer is configured to provide magnification, and a focal point is predetermined.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flap coupled to the sealing element; wherein the flap defines a flap window, the flap is able to move to and from being perpendicular to the sealing element and parallel to the sealing element; and when the flap is parallel to the sealing element, the flap window allows light to pass through the viewer and thought the flap window. 12-23. (canceled)
 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sealing element is removably coupled to the container by an adhesive.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the adhesive is heat activated.
 26. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the viewer defines a focal point and the focal point is located inside the container. 